The start of the world championship match between Magnus Carlsen and his challenger, Sergey Karjakin, is almost a month away, but little bits of information about what the players think and are up to pop up every now and then. Here's a nice summary and collection of what's new, on the Chess24 website; one thing especially caught my attention and made me wonder.
Karjakin is apparently doing a training camp with his team in Miami, Florida, and while it makes sense for him to be there for the sake acclimating to the time zone the climate is so different that this may do him a disservice unless he at least spends a week or so in New York before the match. Or should he stay in Florida as long as possible, for the sake of enjoying the good weather and the sunshine before heading for the (possibly) dreary and sun-blocked environs of the Big Apple? (Those of you who have reflected on this sort of thing are especially welcome to comment.)
Karjakin's confident statement that Carlsen will have to show the best form of his life to beat Karjakin demonstrates the right attitude. Realistic? Probably not, but by having the right attitude he'll at least help make that statement a reality.